From open retailers and milling crowds to simply accessible public transport, a semblance of normality appeared to return to varied components of Maharashtra after lockdown 4 rules kicked in from Friday.

“Logon ko fir se raste par dekh kar aisa lag raha hai ki corona chala gaya (Seeing people back on the road, it seems like coronavirus has gone),” stated Sonu Rathod, a resident of Palghar city, one of lots of who got here out on the streets because the district administration did away with stringent lockdown rules in the world.

As per the brand new tips issued by the Maharashtra authorities earlier this week, Mumbai and 18 different municipal firms had been notified as purple zones, whereas the remainder of the state has now been tagged as a “non-red” zone the place financial exercise can resume in an enormous approach.

“I opened the shop in the morning after two months and as none of the machinery was used during this period most of it has rusted,” stated Rafiq Shaikh, proprietor of {an electrical} repairing store in Palghar, as he spent most of the day setting his devices in order in anticipation of work orders.

In Nashik district as nicely in areas like Vilholi, a well-liked sports activities items chain opened its large facility for the primary time in two months. Whereas solely a handful entered the premises on the primary day, the place is anticipating the quantity of consumers to extend in the approaching few days.

With leisure in place, lengthy queues had been observed exterior liquor and tobacco retailers as individuals stocked up liquor and cigarettes.

There was crowding at sure locations by individuals purchasing for Eid as nicely which falls on Monday. “I hope that I get business and the products get sold out soon so that I earn some money and am able to celebrate Eid with my family,” stated Fateh Ali Panjwani, a stall proprietor exterior Palghar railway station.

Public transport in the non-red zones was additionally seen with the Maharashtra State Highway Transport Company resuming companies. It deployed 457 buses, which operated 2,007 companies throughout the assorted non-red zone districts. A complete of 11,151 commuters used these intra district companies on Friday.

Whereas streets in numerous components of the state had been milling with individuals, the consequences of the migrant exodus had been additionally felt by many companies that resumed on Friday. “I had two migrants working at my shop. Both left without informing me. On Thursday when the order was issued by the district administration, I called my employees asking them to report to the shop on Friday morning, but they instead told me that they have returned back to their states,” stated Akbar Ali, who sells luggage close to Palghar station.

In spite of easing of rules, the district administration has been mandated to make sure that there isn’t a overcrowding in locations. On Friday a cellular retailer proprietor was fined after a big crowd converged on the store with out sustaining social distancing.

Deputy district collector Kiran Mahajan stated, “They were allowed to reopen on the basis of the guidelines issued by the government. The responsibility of maintaining social distancing and ensuring that there is no further spread of the infection is given to the respective gram panchayat and municipal council.”